Going along with the title, I also devoured this book. I hadn’t read anything by the author before but now I’ll definitely check out more of her work!

For me, the strongest parts of this book were the writing and the atmospheric setting. It was stunningly written and I felt like I was there with the characters and could almost see the beautiful scenery which means a lot since I have aphantasia and generally can’t picture any scenes. The world building, while not the strongest, was still pretty intriguing and I liked that there were regional differences in religion and would’ve loved to see more of that and the other gods.
The Characters were also pretty interesting although I wish they had been developed just a bit more, especially Camille wasn’t that three dimensional since she’s only mentioned in the first part of the novel and actually appears later on.
Lark and Alastair were both decently developed and I liked the tension between the two of them. Lark especially was so very endearing and her passion for art helped reignite my own.
My favourite character was probably Hugo, he was only a minor character but I would love to read another novel or maybe a novella about either him or the salt priests in general.

At first, the book was alternating between the current timeline and Lark‘s past at boarding school up until we found out why she got expelled. While the past chapters added slightly more dimension to Lark‘s character, they didn’t do anything to further the actual plot and seemed to have just been added to make the book a little longer and despite finding them quite enjoyable, I also found them rather unnecessary.

*Tiny spoiler for the romantic interests:*
Additionally, what I liked and at the same time didn’t is the addition of polyamory. Generally, I love reading about polyamory but I didn’t love that both of Lark‘s love interests are siblings and she ends up in a polycule with them. Personally, I would’ve preferred it if Alastair and Camille hadn’t been related and all of them had just been friends and then ended up in a throuple, that way we could’ve gotten more yearning and tension from all of them.
*Spoiler over.*

Overall, I still had a really fun time reading this book and didn’t want to put it down and for that I would rate it about 4 out of 5 stars.
If you want to read a beautifully written and atmospheric book then I definitely recommend you pick this up!

Stunning! Admittedly, I did DNF the first book of Clipstone's that I tried to read (Lakesedge) but I knew with this one I had to give her a second try and I can say I am glad that I did. This book is lush and beautiful and the characters are messy. I had an absolutely delight joining them on this journey.

You can expect Hades and Persephone vibes, big feelings, ribbons and lace, some salaciousness, and some genuine horror. The tenderness of the book is balanced with some pretty hard hitting realities that many teens do face.

The world is fun and bares just enough resemblance to ours to keep readers engaged and on their toes at the same time.

First off, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an advanced copy. I absolutely loved the folklore, setting and story each character was going through. The dual timeline helps everything come together beautifully with what is happening in real time and makes you understand and appreciate certain characters so much. I appreciated that the characters were all relatable in their own way.

If anything, I wish we would’ve been able to have been thralled into the world of the Gods more and learned more about Therion.

After being expelled from a prestigious city art school, Lacrimosa (Lark) Arriscane returns to her remote village, only to find her family on the brink of ruin due to a dying salt mine and mounting debts. To save her home, Lark agrees to marry Therion, the village’s enigmatic swan god, and spend half of each year with him in the underworld. While avoiding spoilers, it’s safe to say that Lark’s journey becomes deeply entwined with the village’s elite siblings, Alastair and Camille, who harbor secrets of their own.

This book is steeped in atmosphere. The ethereal and gothic descriptions of the salt mines, cliffs, woods, and the Felimath and Arriscane homes are mesmerizing. The vivid imagery and the story’s dreamy, surreal tone pulled me in completely, while the gripping plot kept me turning pages. I was captivated by Lark’s courage, her compassionate nature, and the depth of her love, as well as by the resilience of the characters as they navigate betrayal and pain.

One of the most striking aspects of this novel is its refreshing approach to love stories. Free from societal expectations, the romantic and emotional arcs celebrate queer love without centering on struggles for self-acceptance. The dynamic between Lark, Alastair, and Camille is richly layered, exploring sibling bonds, romantic connections, and friendships in a way that feels authentic and heartfelt.

I can’t stop thinking about the haunting image of Lark’s feathered wrist—it’s a detail that lingers long after the story ends.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this!

I devoured (pun intended) this book in 2 days, even though I’ve been in a super bad reading slump.

I really enjoyed this! I loved seeing the relationships all develop. I loved that there wasn’t jealousy and never a point where she felt forced to pick.

The tension and suspense of the book was well done, I felt like I needed to keep reading to figure out how to connect the dots and see what was gonna happen next. I was so glad there was a happy ending, I was terrified I’d end up crying because I got so attached to everyone.

All the characters had reasons for everything, even the antagonists. Like even when he was doing something awful, I knew why he was doing it.

The dreamlike quality and creative mythology of Divine Rivals meets the lyrical atmosphere of A Study in Drowning with the complicated relationship dynamics of Your Blood, My Bones.

A rich story with lyrical descriptions and lush settings, the created mythology was interesting as was the deep backstory of the characters. The polyamorous love triangle with the main character and siblings was a unique twist. Good to be aware of mentions of child abuse before reading if this is a trigger.

In all honesty, where do I even begin? Tenderly, I Am Devoured was pretty much everything I hoped for - and more. I fell for the cover and stayed for the blurb, and when it was announced that you could apply for an arc I didn’t even hesitate.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured may have an absolutely gorgeous cover that speaks to me on so many levels, but the content outmatched it. This book has such beautiful prose; and the descriptive writing painted such a clear picture for me as I dove deeper and deeper into it. Perhaps diving into the depths to find my own Swan God. I fell in love with this book hard and fast, and found myself being as in love with the setting of TIAD as I was with the moors of Wuthering Heights.

Gothic and poetic, a lovely mix of folk horror and romance. The horror elements were eerie (and did have me thinking of Lovecraft for a hot second), which I’m all about, and the love between Lacrimosa and the siblings were so different. Where it was hard and painful between her and Alastair, hurting my bleeding cancerian heart, the love between Lacrimosa and Camille was sweet and innocent, making sure to heal that very same heart.

It’s safe to say that I’m absolutely obsessed with this book and I can’t wait for its release, so that I can get my hands on a physical copy. I’ve never wanted to annotate a book as much as I want to with this one.

This book devoured me. Not so tenderly. I was thoroughly captivated by the authors storytelling. The representation of love despite gender was beautiful, however, and maybe this was a trigger I dont remember, I was a little weirded out between the love triangle between siblings and the fmc. Maybe I just can't relate, I was never very good about sharing my toys with my siblings. I also felt like the fmc was rather thirsty for love. I guess it makes sense for the emotional maturity of an 18 year old. There were many heavy adult situations, so mind your triggers.

Lyndall Clipstone's Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a beautifully written gothic fantasy that brims with lush prose and haunting imagery. The story masterfully explores themes of love, obsession, and sacrifice, set against an eerie, dreamlike world that feels as alive as the characters themselves. Clipstone's ability to create a mood of quiet unease and bittersweet longing is truly remarkable.

The characters are deeply flawed yet compelling, and their tangled relationships drive the story with an emotional intensity that lingers long after the final page. While the plot can occasionally meander, the sheer beauty of the writing and the depth of the characters more than compensate for these moments.

This is a novel that will appeal to fans of gothic romance and atmospheric storytelling. A solid four-star read for its stunning prose, rich world-building, and emotional depth.

Thank you Lyndall Clipstone (Henry Holt and Co. and Fierce Reads) for gifting me with this digital ARC!
This is a beautifully written gothic novel that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. The prose are incredibly lyrical and transportive, the characters are well written and developed and the plot and setting are unique and memorable. I really loved the queer representation, there are multiple tender and at times heart wrenching love stories expertly woven into the story. I also enjoyed the mythology/folklore inspired elements which added a unique twist to the classic gothic setting. The pacing felt a little slow in places, but overall it was a beautiful and unique story.
For fans of Saltburn, A Study In Drowning, The Last Tale of The Flower Bride.

4.5 Stars!

Did Lyndall write this with chthonic liquor, because I consumed this novel. 🦋

Thank you Lyndall Clipstone (Henry Holt and Co. and Fierce Reads) for gifting me with this digital ARC! All opinions are my own.

Lyndall’s poetic writing pulled me in like the ocean tide from the start of the story. I wanted to keep unraveling the mysteries presented once I put it down for the night. I was excited for the next day so I could return to Verse which is big since much of my reading has been audiobooks. There was a natural flow of tension, mystery, and reveals that gave a continuous pace to the story. Themes of idolization, the power of three, perspective/interpretation, expectations, and love are interlaced throughout. I liked the tender relationship between Lacrimosa “Lark” and Alastair (and Camille.) You can see the depth and emotion that entangle them. While reading I did want to learn more about Camille as I felt like I knew her the least. I think her and some of the other secondary character could have steeped more so we could get to know them. I think that could have made the ending even more impactful for me. In all, I hope Lark continues to peruse her love for art outside the pain it’s been associated with. 🖤

I think this a perfect book for fans of A Study in Drowning, Strange the Dreamer, or authors Rebecca Ross, Erin Morgenstern, Shea Ernshaw, or Allison Saft.

4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. Publishing for this eARC!

I really enjoyed this book! It did feel like it definitely had a slower plot but I appreciated that I got to slow down and enjoy it. I genuinely enjoyed reading about every one of the characters, and while I thought the romance between the characters was great separately, the fact that she was with both siblings was weird to me, and it’s just not my thing.

The way the setting of this book was described was incredible and so so beautiful. I really love dark settings like this, and it reminded me a lot of A Study In Drowning.

There were a few characters that I feel could have been given more backstory, like Camille, Henry, and Oberon. I feel as though their characters were given almost no backstory, and that made it harder to care about them when I didn’t know much about them other than their relationship with Lark. Overall, this was a very beautiful story, and I can’t wait to see it make its debut next year!

Did I highlight the first sentence of this book because it was beautiful and I was immediately intrigued? Yes, I did. I highlighted so many sentences in this book because they were so enchanting. I love fever dreamy, eerie, gothic stories, and in that way, this book delivered. Thinking back on Tenderly I Am Devoured, it does feel like I'm recalling a dream that feels slightly fuzzy around the edges, which I love. I found myself wrapped up in the descriptions and the atmosphere, getting completely lost in the breathtaking seaside setting (while actually living next to the ocean, which only made it better). While I do love fever dreams, I do feel the dialogue was, at times, a bit...disjointed? Choppy? Like there were bits of dialogue missing? I'm not sure. I can't quite put my finger on why I feel that way, and it could be me, but the communication felt slightly off at parts. I didn't end up feeling super connected to the characters, but that could be intentional - it's like I dreamed these characters but can't totally remember them (and maybe that's the point). I do feel Alastair was the most fleshed out character, but I wish Camille had been more developed. I also feel like some descriptions were a bit repetitive. Having said that, the writing is really gorgeous and I look forward to reading more from this author. I want to thank them for the eARC, it was an honor and a pleasure to read!

This book is perfectly atmospheric, perfectly moody, and contains hearth wrenchingly beautiful prose. In a way, likely because of the gothic vibes, it reminded me of reading Wuthering Heights or even Ethan Frome (more Heathcliff than Ethan though). The way that Clipstone writes I could feel the salt drying on my skin from the crash of the sea. I could hear the waves as they pummeled the sand. I could feel the deep emotions Lacrimosa (Lark), the fmc, goes through and I was in it for every twist and turn. This is a book that does a good job depicting the messy transition from childhood to young adulthood in heartbreaking intensity. The way Clipstone does that is primarily through the Then and Now chapters where the "then" chapters work as flashbacks. I enjoyed the layering of past/present or then/now.

Initially I was thinking of rating it lower only because I wanted more with the characters to stand out and more with the god. I didn't feel that I could get a grasp on Camille and I so wanted to. However, upon reflection I do think the whole point is the messiness of growing up. The heartbreak that comes with it and the spaces you find or create that are fully yours where you can be messy and imperfect. In that, Clipstone knocked it out of the park.

I have read all four of Lyndall Clipstone’s published novels, and as the expert and professional I am, I agree with her wholeheartedly. This is truly her best work and her greatest contribution to the hypnotizing genre that is gothic literature. This novel is beautifully written, hauntingly atmospheric, and breathtakingly transformative. If I must leave this world before I get to set sail off the windy coast in a beautiful swan boat, then may my swan-god betrothed come take me now.

This is a beautifully haunting novel. The lyrical prose flowed throughout the story, which kept me hooked on every page. This was a fantastic folktale that I would recommend to anyone who loves a slightly spooky story.

Dreamy. Atmospheric. Lyrical. Moody. Gothic.
The beautiful writing in this book enchanted me from the very first chapter.

❁My Review❁

There were moments where I felt like I slipped from this reality right into this wistful and haunting world, swimming in the sea with salt in my hair and longing for the chthonic world.
I don’t think I’ve ever looked at the sea in such a romantic and melancholic way before, but this book is so beautiful and the scenery so wonderfully captured that I couldn’t help it.

🤍Lacrimosa🤍
Our main character is so dear to me, I spent many hours with her and I could feel her struggles and longings. I adore soft heroines, because not all of us can be fighters all the time, at least not fighters in the same way.

🩵Alastair🩵
Sweet Alistair, my heart goes out to him. What he had to go through was incredibly difficult and painful, many parts had me on the verge of tears.😭

🌸Camille🌸
I think I have a crush on her and her tender moments with Lark were everything.

🐚Therion🐚
The mysterious God of the Sea from the chthonic world. He intrigued me and terrified me in equal measure.

🌊Plot🌊
It is perfectly paced, each chapter leaves you wanting more while feeling satisfied with what you have found out, at times shocked, other times intrigued, and other times your world is turned upside down.😭

Thank you so much Lyndall Clipstone for the pleasure of reading this advanced reader copy. I am very excited for this book to come out because I need it as a shelf’s trophy and I must add all of my annotations to it.😍

Lyndall Clipstone's "Tenderly, I am Devoured" is a deeply atmospheric standalone that swept me off my feet. The imperfect, complex characters and their intricate relationships felt so unique, shedding light on dynamics that are rarely explored. With every page, I was pulled closer into their world.

The storytelling is incredibly emotional, with beautifully woven flashbacks that bring the protagonist's past to life. You don’t just read this story—you feel it. It’s an intense, moody journey, so vivid that I could almost sense the mist on my skin and hear the waves crashing around me. At times, it felt like stepping into a fairytale—enchanting and otherworldly.

Huge thanks to Lyndall Clipstone and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Gothic fantasy are my buzzwords, throw in some folk horror and you have the absolute perfect book in my opinion.
TIAD follows Lark as she is sent home in disgrace from the pretentious school she was attending. Upon arriving home to Verse (this spooky ocean side village) she realizes her family is in a rare form of disrepair and the only solution is for her to bind and marry herself to the ancient chthonic god they have always worshipped. Enter Alastair whose father is the reason Lark's family have fallen onto hard times- an old childhood friend- turned enemy. When the ritual binding goes horrifically wrong, Lark needs Alastair and his sister Camille to help her right the wrongs or else she will cease to exist.
This book was absolutely delicious, full of tension and longing and chalked full of very complex and dynamic characters. I loved our main characters Lark, Alastair and Camille, but I also loved Lark's brothers and hated the girls from the school and Alastair's father. Lyndall Clipstone had this story so well thought out in my opinion and with such an engaging topic I quite literally could not stop reading this book. Some scenes still linger in my mind- even though I've read upwards of twenty books since this one. Most assuredly one of my favourite books I've read this year.

I so hoped this book would be a 5 star read! But unfortunately, it was the opposite. The plot was way too slow, the characters and their dynamics were dull, I didn't care for what was happening and I found myself bored reading it. :(